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1. Erin Bee (erinbee@gorgon.city)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jun-2022 07:21:49 UTC Erin Bee

   Using the radioactive decay present in a banana to generate random numbers. Even if you don't appreciate the math/code/hardware behind it, you can appreciate the aesthetic of this Arduino-based generator and banana holder.

   Quick explanation: https://www.hackster.io/news/the-just-bananas-method-for-generating-true-random-numbers-0e67c763dc1a

   More complex (including code and math/probability), from the developer: https://www.valerionappi.it/brng-en/

   • Deborah Pickett (futzle@aus.social)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jun-2022 07:21:36 UTC Deborah Pickett

     in reply to

     • Matthew "Smiffy" Smith
     • nick schultz

     @grumpysmiffy @nschultz @erinbee Yeah, Potassium-40 is plentiful and has a long half-life.

     Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅 likes this.
   • Matthew "Smiffy" Smith (grumpysmiffy@aus.social)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jun-2022 07:21:37 UTC Matthew "Smiffy" Smith

     in reply to

     • nick schultz

     @nschultz @erinbee k40

   • nick schultz (nschultz@aus.social)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jun-2022 07:21:48 UTC nick schultz

     in reply to

     • Matthew "Smiffy" Smith

     @grumpysmiffy @erinbee can’t remember why bananas are particularly prone to nuclear decay; I shall look it up later…

   • Matthew "Smiffy" Smith (grumpysmiffy@aus.social)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jun-2022 07:21:49 UTC Matthew "Smiffy" Smith

     in reply to

     • nick schultz

     @erinbee @nschultz I absolutely love this. Not familiar with this tube, so must investigate! I was wondering if it used an SBM20.

     I have a concept of an "atomic clock" using a home made stepper motor, all in clear acrylic, driving a single hand, based on clicks fromna GM tube.

   • Erin Bee (erinbee@gorgon.city)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jun-2022 07:22:09 UTC Erin Bee

     in reply to

     • R. Fox :antifa:

     @ckeen That's hilarious – the pun and the implementation!

   • Robert 🦀 (robotcarsley@jorts.horse)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jun-2022 07:22:09 UTC Robert 🦀

     in reply to

     • R. Fox :antifa:

     @erinbee @ckeen add a potato for power

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   • R. Fox :antifa: (ckeen@vernunftzentrum.de)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jun-2022 07:22:10 UTC R. Fox :antifa:

     in reply to
     @erinbee reminds me of
     https://www.wired.com/2004/06/from-the-prawn-of-time/
     
     Thanks for sharing!
   • MarkusL (markusl@fosstodon.org)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jun-2022 07:22:27 UTC MarkusL

     in reply to

     • R. Fox :antifa:

     @ckeen @erinbee In case this has anyone swearing off bananas because of their natural radioactivity, Randall Munroe has come to the rescue:

     https://xkcd.com/radiation/

     TL;DR: bananas are good for you. 🙂

     Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅 likes this.
   • Colin the Mathmo (colinthemathmo@mathstodon.xyz)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jun-2022 07:22:46 UTC Colin the Mathmo

     in reply to

     • Matthew "Smiffy" Smith
     • nick schultz

     @grumpysmiffy Apparently *both* types of beta decay:

     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium-40

     Intriguing. That's nerd-snup me for an hour or so ...

     @nschultz @erinbee

     Santa Claes 🇸🇪🇭🇰🎅 likes this.
   • Matthew "Smiffy" Smith (grumpysmiffy@aus.social)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jun-2022 07:22:47 UTC Matthew "Smiffy" Smith

     in reply to

     • nick schultz

     @nschultz @erinbee Beta decay.